There Are Perks to Being Social

There.👏🏽 Are.👏🏽 Perks.👏🏽 To.👏🏽 Being.👏🏽 Social.👏🏽

I don’t just say that because it sounds catchy. I say it because I’ve lived it.

Most of the pivotal moments in my life didn’t come from some big planned rollout. They didn’t come from carefully designed strategies or from sitting in a room waiting for someone to notice me. They came from being social. From showing up. From sparking conversations that seemed casual in the moment but changed everything later.

And here’s the thing, it always starts with you.

Last night, I went to yet another dope event packed with creators. The vibe? Subtle but eccentric. Comfortable but electric. Familiar faces I was happy to see again, and new ones that felt like possibilities waiting to unfold.

But while I was mingling, something stood out. In some of the new conversations, I noticed a pattern… a hesitation. People would tell me who they were, what they did, or what they wanted to become, but the conviction wasn’t always there. It was like the words made it out, but the belief got stuck halfway.

And that sparked this blog post. I’m calling it: Taking Ownership of Who I Am

Here’s my belief: if you say it, act on it, and live it, then you are it. Period. But there’s a catch, you’ve got to believe it. Because if you don’t, others won’t either.

Confidence isn’t about arrogance; it’s about alignment. When your words, energy, and actions are aligned, people don’t just hear you… they feel you. But when there’s doubt, even a crack of it, people sense that too.

Stay with me.

Let me tell you a quick story.

A while back, I was at an event not too different from last night. I was still in that early stage of figuring out how to introduce myself as what I truly was: a creator, a writer, a photographer an entrepreneur. I had the titles. I had the receipts. But when I said it out loud, I didn’t fully believe it yet.

At that event, someone asked me, “So, what do you do?”

And instead of standing tall in my truth, I stumbled. “Uh, I do some photography, some writing, some videography…” My voice trailed off like I was apologizing for being a creative. And you know what happened? The conversation ended quickly. No spark. No follow-up. Just polite nods and moving on. Leaving me in an awkward space.

But here’s the flip side.

I began practicing how I introduced myself for months, looking in the mirror and rehearsing until it felt natural “this is my almost daily practice til this day”, I walked into another event with a different energy. Same kind of question: “So, what do you do?”

This time, I didn’t hesitate. I said, “I’m a photographer and entrepreneur. I help people bring ideas to life visually, and I run a space where creators connect.” Boom. Clear. Confident. I didn’t oversell, I didn’t undersell… I just owned it.

You know what happened? The person leaned in. They asked more questions. They connected me with someone else. That moment turned into a collaboration that not only paid me but also expanded my network in ways I couldn’t have imagined.

That’s the difference. Same me, different energy.

And that’s why I swear by this:

Practice.

Yes, practice. Like literally.

Practice until it sticks. Not just the craft, but the presentation of you.

Practice your introduction in the mirror. Practice telling your story without minimizing it. Practice saying thank you without brushing off compliments. Practice the way you smile, how your hands move when you talk, the tone of your voice when you introduce yourself.

It might sound silly. Even a little cringe. But here’s the thing: when you practice, you build muscle memory. Soon, you won’t have to think about it. It becomes natural. You start to own it. And when you own it, the world adjusts to that ownership.

Because being social isn’t just about networking. It’s not about collecting numbers or stacking followers. It’s about showing up fully as who you are, so people have no doubt about who they’re dealing with. That’s where the perks come in.

And trust me, the perks are endless.

Opportunities. Collaborations. Friendships. Mentors. Clients. Random moments that shift the trajectory of your life.

But the biggest perk? Growth.

Every conversation is a mirror. Every introduction is a chance to refine. Every interaction forces you to take ownership of who you are or admit that you’re still figuring it out. And that’s okay too. But you’ve got to start somewhere.

So here’s my challenge to you: take ownership. Say who you are with your chest. Practice until you believe it. And once you believe it, watch how quickly everyone else starts to believe it too.

There are perks to being social. But those perks don’t show up until you do.

Hope this helps.

–B